Scope: The Specialist Homelessness Services National Minimum Data Set (SHS NMDS) aims to provide quality information about people who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness and who are seeking services from specialist homelessness agencies.
This collection is intended to obtain information about clients receiving ongoing or short term support as well as people who are seeking assistance but did not receive any services. Data collection includes basic socio-demographic information and the services required by and provided to each client. Details about accompanying children are also recorded. Additionally, information is obtained about the client circumstances before, during and after receiving support.
The base unit of this collection is a person who presents to a Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) agency requesting a service or services. A person becomes a client once they receive a service or services. The period of time a client receives assistance from a SHS agency is commonly referred to as a support period. It relates to the provision of assistance and/or supported accommodation. A support period is considered finished when the relationship between the client and the agency ends or the client has reached their maximum amount of support.
During a support period there are, in most cases, a series of service episodes or assistance, other than supported accommodation, provided to the client by the SHS agency. For the purposes of the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, assistance also includes contact with a client, or work on behalf of a client.
The SHS NMDS has three ‘views’ for collection purposes, they are: Unassisted person, Client and Specialist homelessness agency.
An ‘Unassisted person’ in the context of this collection is any person who seeks assistance from an agency and is not successful in obtaining that assistance. A ‘Client’ is a person who receives services either directly or indirectly from an agency. A 'Specialist homelessness agency' is an organisation which receives government funding to deliver a specialist homelessness service to a client. If clients present collectively, information is collected for each client but the group is referred to as a 'Presenting unit'.
The 2011 SHS NMDS was developed to support the collection of data under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations for Homelessness. It replaced the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) collection from July 2011.
In 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to reform federal financial relations to improve the quality and effectiveness of government services. These reforms led to the establishment of the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) and the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH), which includes specific performance measures in relation to homelessness.
In conjunction with these reforms, the Australian Government initiated a comprehensive policy review, setting out a national approach to reducing homelessness in the White Paper: The Road Home, A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness.
The 2015-17 SHS NMDS continues to reflect the outcome based performance framework promoted by the COAG Reforms and White Paper. It supports the collection, analysis and reporting of client-based data. This allows for the production of statistical information about clients’ circumstances, the assistance they receive and the outcomes that are achieved for them. This information can be used to inform policy design, evaluation, service improvement and monitoring of specialist homelessness services in Australia.
In addition the 2015-17 SHS NMDS provides for the collection of information about SHS clients with disabilities. This information will be used to better understand the circumstances and experiences of clients with disabilities who access SHS agencies.
Seq No. Metadata item
Obligation
Max occurs
- Specialist Homelessness Services accommodation type and start/end date cluster Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
Clients may enter start and end dates for each of the accommodation types provided during the collection month.
Multiple accommodation types, start dates and end dates may be entered. In a month of 31 days, up to 16 accommodation types, and related start dates or end dates are possible. The dates selected should be valid for the collection month (ie. For September the 30th is a valid date, but the 31st is not a valid date.)
Conditional 16 - Specialist Homelessness Services activity cluster Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
Conditional 1 - Specialist Homelessness Services disability flag cluster Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at presentation.
Conditional 1 - Specialist Homelessness Services financial assistance type and amount cluster Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this cluster is collected at the end of the reporting period (for the current service episode only).
Conditional 1 - Statistical linkage key 581 cluster DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this cluster is collected at the date of presentation.
For the purposes of the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS the SLK of the Presenting Unit Head will be recorded on each their accompanying member’s forms.
Mandatory 1 - Address—Australian postcode, Australian postcode code (Postcode datafile) {NNNN} Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is reported twice, for:
where the person lived one week before the first service contact (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
where the person lived the last time they had a permanent place to live.
Conditional 2 - Address—suburb/town/locality name, text X[X(45)] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is reported twice, for:
where the person lived one week before the first service contact (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
where the person lived the last time they had a permanent place to live.
Conditional 2 - Child—care arrangements, care and protection order code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (Code 1).
This data element is only collected for clients aged less than 18 years, who have a care and protection order.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Conditional 4 - Client—case management goal status, code N Conditional obligation:
Conditional on YES (CODE 1) response to Client—case management plan indicator, yes/no code.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the end of each reporting period, ie each calendar month.
Conditional 1 - Client—case management plan indicator, yes/no code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the end of each reporting period, ie each calendar month.
Conditional 1 - Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
The data collected in the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) NMDS will be used for policy development and agency activity reporting in a non-identifiable form. This information will enable better placement of agency services and enhance service provision to clients of homelessness agencies.
Conditional 1 - Client—reason case management plan does not exist, code N Conditional obligation:
This item is conditional on a response of No (CODE 2) in the data element Client – case management plan indicator yes/no code N.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the end of each reporting period, ie each calendar month.
Conditional 1 - Client—reason case management plan does not exist, text [A(50)] Conditional obligation:
This data element is conditional on a response of Other (CODE 8) for the data element Client—reason case management plan does not exist, code N.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the end of each reporting period, i.e. each calendar month.
Conditional 1 - Person (employed)—full-time/part-time status, code N Conditional obligation:
In the SHS NMDS, this item is only asked of clients. This item is conditional on a response of Employed (CODE 1) in the data element Person—labour force status, code N.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 3), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—Australian state/territory identifier, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is reported twice, for:
where the person lived one week before the first service contact (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
where the person lived the last time they had a permanent place to live.
Conditional 2 - Person—conditions of occupancy, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Please note that Leased tenure - nominated on lease (CODE 1) - and Lease in place - not nominated on lease (CODE 2) are only selected if a lease is in place. Codes 3 to 6 only apply if the person's name is not on a lease.
Conditional 4 - Person—country of birth, code (SACC 2011) NNNN Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
This data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N , must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
Conditional 1 - Person—first service request indicator, yes/no code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is only collected for turnaways. Turnaways are people who have not received any requested services or assessment. This data element is applied to an individual 24-hour reporting period.
Conditional 1 - Person—formally diagnosed mental health condition indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Evidence suggests that the longer persons with mental health problems are supported by specialist homelessness services, the more likely they are to move into public, or community housing or rental housing rather than return to rough sleeping. Access to a range of longer-term supports and community-based services will increase the early intervention and recovery support options for people who are homeless with a mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
Conditional 1 - Person—government funding identifier, Centrelink customer reference number N(9)A Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the consent of the client.
DSS specific information:
The states and territories have agreed to include Centrelink customer reference numbers in the NMDS, however this information is not currently recorded as issues of confidentiality are yet to be resolved.
Conditional 1 - Person—housing tenure type, homelessness code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
Conditional 4 - Person—Indigenous status, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Conditional 1 - Person—labour force status, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
This data element reflects the ABS Labour force status standard variable. Consequently, the value domain definitions explicitly exclude anyone aged under 15.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—living arrangement, homelessness code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—mental health services received indicator, yes/no code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Conditional 1 - Person—mental health services received timeframe, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
This item is also conditional on the client responding to the data element Person—mental health services received, code N with Yes (CODE 1).
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Conditional 1 - Person—new client indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is used to gain an idea of the 'trend of homelessness'. It does this by collecting data as to whether or not the presenting person has accessed a specialist homelessness agency before.
Conditional 1 - Person—number of people in the presenting unit, total N[N] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Mandatory 1 - Person—previously homeless status, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected a minimum of twice (for the client):
within the previous month
within the previous year.
If a client has indicated that they were homeless in the last month, then by default they should be recorded as homeless in the last 12 months.
This question allows the client to check all responses that apply, and therefore the client may have up to 3 valid responses for each instance of this question.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 6 - Person—previously resided in institution/facility indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation. This data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
Conditional 1 - Person—principal source of cash income, code NNNN Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
This data element reflects the ABS Sources of income standard variable. Consequently, the value domain definitions explicitly exclude anyone aged under 15.
If income information on children under 15 years is sought for the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, these persons may also be asked the sources of income questions. However, if comparability with ABS collections is required, the SHS data can be filtered using the age data element to remove responses for children aged under 15.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
For the purposes of the SHS collection the following list is used which aggregates to the ABS Sources of Income Classification.
Government pensions and allowances
Newstart Allowance
Parenting Payment
Disability support pension (Centrelink)
Youth allowance
Age pension
Austudy/ABSTUDY
Disability Pension (DVA)
Service pension (DVA)
War Widow(er)'s Pension (Including income support supplement) (DVA)
Sickness allowance
Carer Allowance
Carer Payment
Other government pensions and allowances
Other sources of income
Employee income
Unincorporated business income
Other income nec
Nil income
Not stated/not known/inadequately described
Conditional 4 - Person—reason for seeking assistance, homelessness code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the SHS NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
This data element is collected twice (for the client):
for all the presenting reasons for seeking assistance; and subsequently
for the main presenting reason for seeking assistance
In both cases the reasons are those nominated by the client.
This question allows the client to check all responses that apply for all the presenting reasons for seeking assistance (up to 26 valid responses). The client should also select one main reason for seeking assistance.
Conditional 27 - Person—reason for seeking assistance, text A[A(49)] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation. This data element is conditional on the person responding with Other (CODE 26), in the data element Person—reason for seeking assistance, homelessness code N[N].
Conditional 1 - Person—reason services not provided, code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected only for 'turnaways'. Turnaways are people who have not received any requested services or assessment.
DSS specific information:
This question allows the person to check all responses that apply, and therefore the person may have up to 11 valid responses.
Conditional 11 - Person—registered/awaiting government payment indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is only collected for clients who report nil income (CODE 17) in Person—principal source of cash income, code NNNN.
This question establishes whether clients may have applied for a government benefit, pension or allowance, but are still awaiting their first payment.
DSS specific information:
This data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—relationship to the presenting unit head, code N[N] DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Mandatory 1 - Person—relationship to the presenting unit head, text [A(50)] Conditional obligation:
This data element is conditional on the person responding with Other relationship (CODE 15), in the data element Person—relationship to the presenting unit head, code N[N].
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Conditional 1 - Person—residential type, homelessness code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 99) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—school enrolment and attendance status, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS this data element is collected for all clients from age 4 to 18 years (inclusive). This data element is not collected for children aged 4 years who have not started school.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 99) in the Standard.
Conditional 1 - Person—service requested, homelessness code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is only collected for 'turnaways'. Turnaways are people who have not received the requested services or assessment.
DSS specific information:
This question allows the client to check all responses that apply, and therefore the client may have up to 4 valid responses for this question.
Conditional 4 - Person—source of information on a mental health condition indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1)
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
Conditional 1 - Person—source of information on a mental health condition, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
It is also conditional on a response of Yes (CODE 1) to Person—source of information on a mental health condition indicator, code N.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
This data element is collected from the perspective of the agency worker. The agency worker may answer this question based on their personal observations, or from information volunteered by the client. If the client does not agree to answer the questions which require consent, the agency worker will be unable to report this information.
Conditional 1 - Person—student type, code N Conditional obligation:
Conditional on responding to Person—student/employment training indicator, code N with a Yes (CODE 1).
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—student/employment training indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected four times, for the following points in time:
one week before the start of the support period (the Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY)
at the date of presentation
at the end of the reporting period (the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY)
at the end of the support period (the Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY).
Only one permissible value is selected in each case.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/Inadequately described (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 4 - Person—time elapsed since last permanent residence, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Don't know/Not sure (CODE 9) in the Standard.
Conditional 1 - Person—type of institution recently left, homelessness code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is conditional on the client providing consent to release their personal data to the AIHW. The data element Client—consent obtained indicator, yes/no code N, must receive a response of Yes (CODE 1).
This item is also conditional on a response of Yes in the data element Person—previously resided in institution/facility indicator, code N.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation. This data element refers to institutions or facilities the client may have been in during the last 12 months. This question allows the client to check all responses that apply, and therefore the client may have up to 7 valid responses.
The value Other (CODE 98) is not used by this collection.
Conditional 7 - Person—urgency of requested assistance, time period code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is only collected for 'turnaways'. Turnaways are people who have not received the requested services or assessment.
DSS specific information:
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Don't know/Not sure (CODE 7) in the Standard.
Conditional 1 - Person—year of first arrival in Australia, date YYYY Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this Data Element is ascertained for all clients who have indicated that their Country of Birth is not Australia.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
The supplementary code Don't know (Code 9999) is used to process client data if a valid year of arrival is not provided.
Conditional 1 - Referral—formal referral source, homelessness code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected at the date of presentation.
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Don't know/Not sure (CODE 22) in the Standard.
Conditional 1 - Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS this data element is the support period end date.
Conditional 1 - Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS this data element is the support period start date.
Conditional 1 - Service episode—reporting period, date MMYYYY DSS specific information:
This data element reflects the month that information was collected from the person. It is recorded for both clients and turnaways.
Mandatory 1 - Service episode—service cessation reason, homelessness code N[N] Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients if the support period has finished.
DSS specific information:
This collection records a response of Don't Know (CODE 99), which is equivalent to the code Not stated/unknown (CODE 99) in the Standard.
Conditional 1 - Service episode—service ongoing indicator, code N Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
The code Not stated/inadequately described (CODE 9) is not used by this collection.
Conditional 1 - Service event—assistance request date, DDMMYYYY DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this Data Element is relevant to 'turnaways' and clients. It captures the date on which a person sought assistance from a Specialist Homelessness Agency. This may not be the same date the assistance or service is received by the client.
Mandatory 1 - Service event—first service contact date, DDMMYYYY Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for all clients.
This data element is collected for the first service contact date within the reporting period. If the first service contact was also the start of the service episode, as recorded by the data element Service episode—episode start date, DDMMYYYY, then the same date will be recorded for both data elements. If the service episode is ongoing but the service event is new, then the actual date of the new service event should be recorded.
This data element should ascertain the actual date of service, not the date when the data is recorded.
Conditional 1 - Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY Conditional obligation:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this item is only asked of clients.
DSS specific information:
In the Specialist Homelessness Services NMDS, this data element is collected for all clients.
This data element is collected for the last service provision date within the reporting period. If the last provision of a service was also the end of the service episode, as recorded by the data element Service episode—episode end date, DDMMYYYY, then the same date will be recorded for both data elements.
If the last provision of a service is not the end of the service episode (i.e. where other services continue to be provided) the actual date of the end of the service event should be recorded. However if the service event within the service episode is ongoing to the next reporting period, ie ongoing to the following month, then the Service event—last service provision date, DDMMYYYY will be recorded as the last day of the current month.
This data element should ascertain the actual date of service, not the date when the data is recorded.
Conditional 1 - Service provider organisation—organisation identifier, NNNNNA Mandatory 1